Schools Spectacular

Schools Spectacular

The Australian flag can be seen on the arena the 2005 Schools Spectacular
Genre Music performance
Frequency annual
Location(s) Sydney
Inaugurated 1984
Most recent 2015
Previous event 23 and 24 November
Next event 29 and 30 November
Participants 4,000
Attendance 10,000
Website
www.schoolsspectacular.com.au

The Schools Spectacular is an Australian variety show featuring more than 3,000 students from across New South Wales and is performed annually at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Highlights of the Schools Spectacular are broadcast each year by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The actual performance is made up of many different pieces. A typical piece would have a spotlighted soloist singing on an elevated platform in the arena, surrounded by many dancers and actors. On the stage, the orchestra would be playing the instrumental part of the song while the choirs behind and next to the orchestra would be singing the chorus of the song.

The first Schools Spectacular was Schools Spectacular 1983 and was intended to be a sound test for the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Since then, the Schools Spectacular has evolved significantly. The 2012 event included 3,600 students and 600 teachers from 400 schools in four performances viewed by 30,000 people.[1]

Schools Spectacular is broadcast as a telecast with the highlights by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and as a first, webcast through the Internet onto their website, with the help and sponsorship by Cisco Systems. The Schools Spectacular is produced by 'The Arts Unit' of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training.

Past Themes

Each year the School Spectacular follows a theme, usually reflective of something Australian.

  • 1993 - One Spirit
  • 1994 - International
  • 1995 - Hats Off To Australia
  • 1996 - Get Set 2000
  • 1997 - The Edge
  • 1998 - Reaching the World
  • 1999 - To Be Australian

  • 2000 - The Entertainers
  • 2001 - Celebrate!
  • 2002 - By Invitation
  • 2003 - 20 Years on
  • 2004 - 21st Birthday
  • 2005 - The Face of Australia
  • 2006 - Shine

  • 2007 - My Spec
  • 2008 - The Spectacular Spirit
  • 2009 - Reaching Out
  • 2010 - Colour My World
  • 2011 - Imagine
  • 2012 - Our Time [2]
  • 2013 - 30 Spectacular Years
  • 2014 - This Is Australia
  • 2015 - This is Our World


Schools Spectacular 2008

2008 marked the 25th anniversary for Schools Spectacular. It intended to bring back some of the most talented performers in the show's history (many who are now world famous), from when it began in 1984 until today. It planned to highlight how the show had grown over the twenty-five years.

The event has grown to be one of the biggest shows on earth, also published in Guinness World Records for over 10 years now as "the world's biggest variety show", and claimed by audiences across Australia as "the most heart-warming event of the year".

The Spectacular starts off with hundreds filling the grand stage for the opening and builds by "thousands" in over three hours of non-stop performances and talent. Finally the cast of over 3500 of the most talented student performers across NSW return to the one stage for the finale.

Schools Spectacular 2007

Schools Spectacular 2007, dubbed "My Spec", had a schools preview performance on Friday 23 November 2007, followed by an evening performance on the same day. There was another performance at 2pm and 8pm on Saturday 24 November.

Schools Spectacular 2005

Schools Spectacular 2005 was dubbed "The Face of Australia" and celebrated the Australian history, landscape, goal and lifestyle. A tribute to Alec Campbell, the last surviving ANZAC, who had died in 2002, was in the production. Previous Schools Spectacular successes like John Foreman, who has hosted Schools Spectacular since 2001 and Human Nature made appearances during the show.

Act I

Opening
Feature Presentation
  • This Is The World We Live In - Mixed artists, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • I Believe - Solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • Hey Good Looking - accompanied by band
  • Truly Madly Deeply - A dance ensemble, accompanied by band
  • The Swimming Song ("Great Outdoors") - accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • Kate Kelly - solo, accompanied by band, Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and the NSW Public Schools State Senior Dance Company choreographed by Dr. John Mullins
  • Long Way To The Top - solo, accompanied by band and CSC
  • Locomotion - solo, accompanied by band and CSC
  • Computer Games - solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • Eagle Rock - solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • Good Times - solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • Redback On The Toilet Seat - group, accompanied by band
  • Court of King Caractacus - group, accompanied by band
Guest Performance
  • Reach Out I'll Be There - Human Nature
  • What If I Break Her Heart - Pas de Deux choreographed by Judi Joy, solo, accompanied by orchestra
  • Explosive - Schools Spectacular Ballet Ensemble 2005 - Choreographed by Peter Cook and Lisa Munns
  • Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - solo, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir
  • Stella - solo, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir
  • Aida - solo, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir

Act II

The Anzacs

Scout Band/Choir
The piece also included the NSW Senior Drama Company performing a theatre piece integrated throughout the Anzac segment.

  • It's a Long Way to Tipperary - Marching Band
  • Pack Up Your Troubles - Marching Band
  • Hang Out the Washing On the Siegfried Line - Marching Band
  • Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant-Major - Marching Band
  • Keep the Home Fires Burning - Marching Band
  • Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye - Marching Band
  • Mad World - solo, choreographed by dance group
  • Guide Me Home - duo, choreographed by Peter Cook (featuring Tyler Hawkins and Liesel Zink)
  • Hallelujah - solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir
The Rainforest
  • The Animal Song - solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • Nature - solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • We Will Rock You- solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by band and CSC
  • Don't Stop - solo, choreographed by dance group and CSC, accompanied by band and CSC
  • Plain Tree Street - solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra
  • Rock Band Group performance
Cultural songs and dances
  • Australian Aboriginal- School involved in the cultural dance were, South Grafton and Ballina High School as well as Kempsey Primary
  • New Zealand Maori
  • China
  • India
  • Ballroom - Sway - NSW Public Schools State Senior Dance Company
  • "If I Were A Rich Girl" (based on "If I Were A Rich Man") and Mambo Italiano
  • Latin America - Whenever, Wherever
Closing
  • I've Had The Time Of My Life - solo, choreographed by Peter Cook - NSW Public Schools State Dance Companies and Ensembles, accompanied by band
  • Proud (teacher thank you) - solo, choreographed by Peter Cook, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
  • Don't Stop - entire cast

Notable alumni

References

  1. Alison Branley (9 October 2012). "Three Hunter students in Schools Spectacular". Newscastle Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  2. David Knox (13 December 2012). "Airdate: Schools Spectacular 2012". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  3. "Schools Spectacular 2014". www.limelightmagazine.com.au. Retrieved 2015-12-05.

External links

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